Volkswagen upsizes its Tiguan for North America

The 2018 VW Tiguan is powered by its turbocharged, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine which makes 184 hp, 221 lb.-ft. of torque.

The 2018 VW Tiguan proves that in some cases, bigger is indeed better.

Based on the new corporate MQB scalable architecture that brings reduced costs, the new Tiguan is available globally in two sizes — with short and long wheelbases.

The only Tiguan destined for North America is the larger, long wheelbase version being built exclusively for us in VW’s massive Puebla, Mexico facility.

One of the chief gripes about the old Tiguan was size. It was too small, with minimal rear seat and cargo space.

The 2018 Tiguan is so much larger it is available with a third row of seats. The front and rear wheels are 18 cm further apart, with most of that extra length given to rear seat legroom.

Overall length is up by 27 cm with much of that appearing aft of the rear doors — making room for a tiny third row of seats and/or a very large cargo compartment — 58 per cent larger than the outgoing model.

The main complaint about the old Tiguan has thus been addressed. The new Tiguan is one of the largest players in the compact utility segment.

Want to put child seats or grownups in the second row and have a tall person at the wheel? No problem.

The third row of seats is available as a package on all three trim levels in case you have to accommodate seven people. As long as those relegated to the rearmost seat are lithe and little.

With the third row in place, second row volume drops from 48.6 cubic feet to 46.2 and second row legroom from 982 mm to 856.

The new Tiguan is powered by an updated version of the turbocharged 2.0-litre four used previously. The bad news is that horsepower is down about 10 per cent.

But that is the only negative, and only important on paper because torque is up by a similar amount, and torque is what you feel when you press the accelerator at low speeds.

Another bonus is that the new engine runs just fine on regular fuel, whereas VW recommended premium for the outgoing version.

The Tiguan comes with front or all-wheel-drive. The tester had VW’s 4Motion system. A knob on the console allows the driver to select from four modes: on-road, snow, off-road and custom off-road.

The Tiguan is a pleasant ride on the highway. Abrupt surface changes like potholes are fed back directly and harshly, but lesser imperfections or smoother surface changes are readily absorbed.

This is no sports car though.

Push it into the turns or an offramp and understeer raises its head quickly, and there is some lean from the tall body. The new Tiguan is also 150 kilos heavier than the outgoing model.

Putting ride quality ahead of back road handling was an obvious decision for a vehicle destined primarily for the American market, and one that will be appreciated by the vast majority of buyers.

While its increased size is a clear sign VW got the message and intends to compete in this segment, the interior reinforces that fact.

Tasteful and modern is the theme. Hard plastic surfaces have been replaced by soft touch materials and fit and finish are first rate.

Seats in both front and second rows are roomy and supportive.

Those in back are split 40/20/40 and recline and slide fore and aft. They can be folded down from the rear door area or from the rear hatch.

Beneath the capacious cargo floor you will find a place to store the sliding cargo cover.

In most competitors you are left to leave it out or place it atop your cargo. There are tie-down hooks and a 12-volt outlet.

The tester also had an Audi-like digital cockpit, LED headlights, a 360-degree exterior-view camera, and parking sensors front and rear.

The second-generation 2018 Tiguan should appeal to a wider audience than the outgoing model, especially those who frequently use the second-row seats or cargo compartment.